FREEPORT, MAINE—Rates will be reduced by 50 percent at some of Maine’s finest inns and resorts this spring in support of Hospitality for Habitat, a Maine Innkeepers Association (MEIA) program designed to raise funds for local chapters of Habitat for Humanity while encouraging spring travel to Maine, announced Greg Dugal, executive director of MEIA. This year, after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, a portion of the funds raised will be distributed to Habitat for Humanity projects in Haiti as well. Innkeepers all over the state, participating in the seventh annual Hospitality for Habitat, will reduce their room rates...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As demand for natural products continues to rise, the Natural Products Association (NPA) is extending its natural seal and standard to include home care products, such as household cleaners, laundry detergents, and concentrated and ready-to-use hard surface cleaners. Until now, there was no standard definition of the term “natural” used by the home care industry. Now, an easily identifiable seal will help consumers discern which products are natural. Shoppers can expect the seal to begin appearing on certified home care products in the coming months. “A number of products that are mainly synthetic are being positioned as natural,” said Daniel...

HONG KONG—Demonstrating its commitment to protecting the environment and mitigating climate change, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel groups, announced that it will participate for a second consecutive year in Earth Hour, a global Worldwide Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) climate change initiative. On March 27, 2010, between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m., more than 60 Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts worldwide will turn off their lights in most back-of-the-house areas and dim the lights in public areas, restaurants and hotel exteriors. Guests will be encouraged to participate by turning off the lights in their guestrooms. Shangri-La...

DANA POINT, CALIF.—Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment (AOTE) program will launch at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel on Earth Day, April 22, 2010. AOTE includes an environmental and cultural education center with excursions led by expert naturalists. “The launch of AOTE demonstrates our strong commitment to our community and our planet,” said general manager Bruce Brainerd. “The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel will be the first luxury resort in the continental United States to offer a comprehensive program that provides guests the opportunity to become advocates of protecting and preserving the planet for future generations through social responsibility and stewardship.” AOTE is...

ORLANDO, FLA.—The biggest news coming out of Carlson Hotels’ Global Business Conference from March 3 to 5 was its Ambition 2015 growth strategy focused on expanding the company’s property folio by at least 50 percent to more than 1,500 hotels in operation. From a corporate social responsibility perspective (CSR), the news at the conference may not have been as grand but it certainly was as important. Beathe-Jeanette Lunde, executive vice president of human resources for Carlson Hotels, The Americas, unveiled Carlson’s 2010 CSR strategy to Carlson stakeholders. Included in it is an Americas commitment to the United Nations Global...

SAN FRANCISCO—Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants has introduced Wines That Care during its hosted nightly wine hour at nearly 50 hotels nationwide. For guests in the mood to mix and mingle in the living room-style lobby with a glass of red or white, every savored sip will come from a featured winery of the month chosen for its dedication to the earth and local communities. Hand-picked by Kimpton’s wine director and master sommelier, Emily Wines, Wines That Care will offer pours from a different winery each month that has a unique story and genuine commitment to environmental preservation and sustainability....

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF.—CMC Media Inc., publisher of the Green Building Journal and host of GreenBuildingPro.com, a social media community for green building professionals, has announced Green Building Expo 2010. The online conference and exposition, which will take place May 19 to 20, 2010, is available free to attendees anywhere Internet connectivity is available. According to Conservation International, online events can eliminate more than 300 tons of CO2 per 1000 attendees. Green Building Expo is a virtual conference and showcase with wide-ranging exhibits, conference sessions, panel discussions and keynote presentations by Jack Canfield, originator of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul”...

NATIONAL REPORT—In the last several years, the number of green lodging certification programs available to U.S. hotels has exploded with programs emerging at the national, state and city level. For the most part, these programs address indoor air quality by encouraging lodging establishments to avoid the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are often found in paints, glues, cleaning chemicals, furniture and other items. Some even ask if a property has been tested for radon gas. Ironically, most certification programs avoid addressing the most obvious action that can impact guestroom air quality: smoking. Many studies have proven the ill, often...

LAS VEGAS—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas, two Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., Las Vegas resorts, the agency’s WasteWise New Partner Gold Achievement Award. The Gold Achievement Award is presented to new partners that implement successful comprehensive waste reduction programs that epitomize the objectives of the EPA’s WasteWise program. The first casino entertainment company to be awarded an EPA WasteWise Gold Achievement Award, Harrah’s is also the only national casino entertainment company to belong to the EPA’s WasteWise member list. “Harrah’s Entertainment employees at the Bally’s Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas hotel implemented an impressive array...

OTTAWA, ONT.—For the past six years, the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) has conducted a comprehensive survey of Canadian travel trends and intentions for the upcoming year. Unveiled during HAC’s Annual Conference and Trade Show in February, the results of this year’s survey revealed several important insights of great value with respect to a hotel’s sustainable initiatives. The survey identified important trends with respect to the “environment” which hoteliers should note, including increasing awareness of environmental issues among hotel guests, and an increased importance related to both green certified hotels and hotels promoting eco-friendly practices to their guests. Relating specifically...